Month: May 2009

Manchester Orchestra and Favorite Gentlemen are proud to present “I Can Feel A Hot One” on Paste Magazine.

Exhausted? Dead? Dreaming? Many questions arise as we find our hero collapsed in the woods. She is transported to an ethereal plane where all is beautiful. Yet the angelic beauty of her surroundings can not outweigh her pain that has followed her. Ultimately she is driven her to make the ultimate sacrifice that could lead to her demise or take her deeper into this new found consciousness.

The full-album series concept was conceived by the Emmy Award winning directing team of Clay Lipsky and Jason Bognacki of Destroy Rock Music Inc., whom also directed “I Can Barely Breathe” from the band’s debut I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child.

Lipsky notes that the vision behind the videos are to “create a cinematic collage of decaying film and lost memories intertwined with a loose narrative about a young woman on a surreal journey to find what she is missing.” The videos to follow will continue to discover the many layers hiding within the new record.

A Camp Set to Release Covers EP on Nettwerk Available Exclusively in North America on iTunes June 9 and All Digital Service Providers June 16

New York, NY – As A Camp kick off their first North American tour today at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City in support of their North American debut album, Colonia, the band announces the release of their Covers EP on Nettwerk exclusively in North America through iTunes on June 9. The Covers EP features three cover tracks from a few of their favorite artists: Pink Floyd, David Bowie and Grace Jones; the EP is available on all digital service providers on June 16.

A Camp explains in their own words why they chose to cover these three songs/artists:

“US + THEM”: By Pink Floyd of course, is one of the most beautiful songs imaginable. The only reason we thought we could approach this one at all is it just seemed to sit perfectly within our musical vocabulary and we thought Nina’s voice could perhaps add another dimension to this already brilliant piece of music. There’s a reason why Dark Side of the Moon is one of the most popular albums of all time. It’s an absolutely timeless work. This track could go on forever; it’s like a wonderful dream.

“BOYS KEEP SWINGING”: Who doesn’t love Bowie? He’s given us so much… and again we thought it would be rocking to hear this particular track come out of a girl’s mouth. We think it lends the song a different angle. Plus at this point it’s the loudest thing in our live set and is a massive energy release. It’s a totally catchy song as well and it’s like Bowie just said to hell with it and recorded things in the most train-wrecked non-commercial way he could come up with, almost guaranteeing its commercial failure back in ’79. Fantastic… off of his Lodger record, which is packed with excellent songs.

“DONE IT AGAIN”: Grace Jones did this originally on her Nightclubbing album (pull up to my bumper baby!), and itÂ’s a hot track. We were drawn initially to the bizarre very smart lyrics from the outset and also that the Swedish soprano Jenny Lind is name-checked, that HAS to be the only instance of that in pop music. The time-travel/”ZELIG” tone to the words made a lot of sense as well as that’s kind of our vibe with Colonia. And we dug the sweet cocaine, studio-in-Barbados groove. The song manages to simultaneously seem nearly asleep and yet totally insane (in the best way), full of this world-weary sadness, plus a rage deep in there somewhere… not unlike Grace herself! As it happens we were on tour recently in Europe about a day behind her, so would see fresh traces of her along our journey, it was spooky and fun. We don’t believe she really exists. This track has become a fan fave in our live show. It’s got that Bosso flav; and Nina gets to bust out her magic claves!

A Camp-featuring of Nina Persson (The Cardigans), Nathan Larson (Shudder to Think) and Niclas Frisk (Atomic Swing) – released their debut album Colonia last month to critical acclaim. Rolling Stone said, “{Persson} luxuriates in brooding isolation, orchestral drift and heartsick melodies that recall Sixties girl groups and the Carpenters, ” while Spin called the album “Beguiling, gorgeous stuff – and smartly funny too.”

Their first North American tour begins today at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City and takes them across the country through 12 major cities, ending in Los Angeles on June 15 at The Troubadour.

Microsoft Announces the Expansion of the Zune Entertainment Service to New Platform and Markets; Confirms New Zune HD Portable Media Player Premium Zune digital entertainment service to be available internationally on Xbox LIVE.

REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft Corp. today announced the evolution of Zune, the company’s end-to-end music and entertainment service, to a new platform and new markets. Zune will extend its video service to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall. This marks an important development in the Zune strategy and brings the Zune brand to more than 17 million international Xbox LIVE subscribers. In addition, Microsoft confirmed the next generation of the Zune portable media player, Zune HD. Available in the U.S. this fall, Zune HD is the first portable media player that combines a built-in HD Radio receiver, high-definition (HD) video output capabilities, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen, Wi-Fi and an Internet browser. “The Zune music player is an integral part of the overall Zune experience, and we’re proud to be growing and extending our offering beyond the device,” said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV, Video and Music Business Group. “Delivering on Microsoft’s connected entertainment vision, this news marks a turning point for Zune as it brings cross-platform experiences and premium video content to living rooms around the world.”

Zune Service Expands to New Platform Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, bringing an exciting catalog of TV and film to the platform. Zune will occupy the first slot within the Xbox user interface in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, exposing the Zune brand experience to millions of new consumers for the first time. At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next week, attendees will see firsthand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE to create a game-changing entertainment experience.

Introducing Zune HD Zune HD is the next iteration of the Zune device family and brings a new level of listening and viewing experiences to the portable media player category. + Zune HD comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver so users can listen to higher-quality sound than traditional radio on the go. Users also will have access to the additional song and artist data broadcast by HD Radio stations as well as additional channels from their favorite stations multicasting in HD. If you don’t like the song playing on your station’s HD channel, switch to its HD2 or HD3 channels for additional programming. + The bright OLED touch screen interface allows users to flip through music, movies and other content with ease, and the 16:9 widescreen format display (480×272 resolution) offers a premium viewing experience on the go. + The HD-compatible output lets Zune HD customers playback supported HD video files from the device through a premium high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station (sold separately) direct to an HD TV in 720p.* + Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality. + Zune HD is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing for instant streaming to the device from the more than 5 million-track Zune music store.

Mars Volta members keep it in the family: Zechs Marquise see release of debut album via Rodriguez Lopez Productions and announce tour

Days after playing the Bonnaroo festival in The Mars Volta alongside his brother Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, multi-instrumentalist Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez will hit the road once again. This time he joins another of his siblings, bassist Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez in their prog-rock groove outfit Zechs Marquise.

While sharing The Mars Volta’s penchant for expansive passages, Zechs Marquise takes a hazier, psych-laden approach to its songs, as evident on its 15-track debut album Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare to be released Fall 2009 via Rodriguez Lopez Productions (listen to “Chase Scene” and “Sirenum Scopuli”) The El Paso, TX based quartet brings its heaving sounds to the east coast in July, opening for the album release tour of like-minded groove-tech band RX Bandits. See complete dates below.

Zechs Marquise formed in El Paso, Texas during the spring of 2003 when brothers Marfred and Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez came together with childhood friends Matthew Wilkson and Marcos Smith. The group soon named itself after a popular Japanese anime character and hit the studio to record its first album during the late summer months of 2004. That studio effort was later scrapped and in June 2006 the band instead released 34:26, a live improved set that showed its great range of talents and influences. By fall of 2006, Zechs was touring the west coast consistently, sharing the stage with such eclectic acts as Daedelus, Busdriver, The Album Leaf, (DJ) Nobody, Daddy Kev, The Gaslamp Killer, and Totimoshi.

July 2007 saw the band return to the recording studio. Having learned from the difficulties of their first attempt, the quintet decided to keep all of the recording in house, purchasing a mixing board, microphones, and Pro Tools in order to track all of the recordings themselves. After a few days in their studios, dubbed Castle Greyskull and El Morro, the members realized they had enough material for a full length album. The record, Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare, was completed in February 2008.

Zechs Marquise then spent time on the road, auspiciously touring with Free Moral Agents & Blank Blue. In March 2009, the band made its first adventure overseas to Europe, opening for the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Group, in which Marcel — then performing double duty — is also a player. During the overseas tour, Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare was released in Europe by RLP/Willie Anderson Recordings on CD as well as the first pressing of the album on vinyl.

In May 2009, Zechs Marquise signed on to the prestigious management roster at Sargent House and will release Our Delicate Stranded Nightmare in the U.S. on vinyl and CD on August 25th through Rodriguez Lopez Productions.

MADELEINE PEYROUX TO TOUR NORTH AMERICA THIS SUMMER ON HEELS OF UK RAVES

“Peyroux has the gift of totally inhabiting a song, whatever the mood.” – Neil McCormick, The Telegraph (UK)

On June 18th, Madeleine Peyroux will perform at New York’s Town Hall, the first stop on a 21 date North American tour following a stellar stretch of acclaimed UK and European performances. Raved Neil McCormick in the Telegraph: “Peyroux has the gift of totally inhabiting a song, whatever the mood. Her four-piece band fall into place around her, tastefully bathing her vocals in washes of delicate piano, electric guitar and feather-light drumming.”

In addition to headlining dates, Peyroux will appear on the CBS Early Show on August 1st, and is also slated to perform at the Montreal Jazz Festival and the Chicago Jazz Festival.

Peyroux’s newest album ‘Bare Bones’ debuted to rave reviews in People Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Billboard and the New York Times. “Her subtle explorations of love’s trials and tribulations grow more enjoyable with repeated listening. There’s a certain cozy comfort in the wry way she opens up and shares her emotions” raved Steve Jones in USA Today while Thomas Kintner of the Hartford Courant wrote that Peyroux “puts her stamp on all-new material, and weaves an alluring tapestry of sonic elegance, vocal character and lyrical bite.”

TouchTunes, the largest interactive entertainment network in North America, has announced a sweepstakes for a chance to win a legendary Paul Reed Smith guitar signed by the members of rock band Saving Abel (Virgin).

Saving Abel fans can enter the sweepstakes at TouchTunes digital jukebox screens nationwide or online at www.touchtunes.com/savingabel through June 8.

Originating from Corinth, Mississippi, Saving Abel is Jared Weeks, Jason Null, Scott Bartlett, Eric Taylor and Blake Dixon. The band boasts a cool, alt-rock, Southern-tinged sound that is instantly familiar and irresistible. Songs range from the intense rocker “New Tattoo” to the sexy groove of “Addicted” to the haunting new anthem “Drowning (Face Down).

“We’re just trying to connect with people,” said Jared Weeks. “And we’re going to keep doing what we do until they don’t want to hear it any more!”

The sweepstakes is timed to support the March 11 marketing push for “Drowning (Face Down),” the band’s third consecutive Top 5 hit from their certified-Gold debut album Saving Abel. The song is anticipated to mirror the success of the album’s Platinum-selling first single, “Addicted” which has consistently been a TouchTunes jukebox favorite since the album release. The song has sold 1.5 million downloads to date and was the most played song at active rock radio in 2008. Saving Abel is the first band since 2006 to have their first three singles reach the Top 10 at active rock radio.

“TouchTunes digital jukeboxes play hundreds of millions of songs annually, and that’s growing,” said Vicki Saunders, VP, music marketing, TouchTunes. “It’s great to work with Virgin to promote Saving Abel to their rapidly expanding audience; and to contribute towards the band’s move up the charts.”

“There will be a lot of exciting activity around Saving Abel this summer, and we know that by partnering with TouchTunes we’ll be reaching their fans, which is so important to the band,” said Rick Smith, Saving Abel management.

“We started to track TouchTunes plays from the album and were more than impressed with the numbers,” added Scott Frazier, Saving Abel management.

Saving Abel will be on tour with Nickelback, another TouchTunes favorite, throughout the summer. Nickelback partnered with TouchTunes earlier this year to promote their Dark Horse tour with a TouchTunes sweepstakes offering fans the chance to win two tickets for one of six tour dates.

About TouchTunes Corporation TouchTunes Corporation is the largest out-of-home interactive entertainment network in North America. TouchTunes provides entertainment and marketing solutions to more than 38,000 bars, restaurants, and retailers. TouchTunes delivered more than 700 million songs in 2008 alone. Since TouchTunes introduced the world’s first digital downloading, pay-per-play jukebox in 1998, the network now offers a growing library of more than three million licensed music tracks; and plays more than 1.7 million songs every day. Barfly by TouchTunes delivers a unique, on-location interactive television experience with a screen-within-a-screen for scheduled programming, custom advertising and social networking opportunities. PlayPorTT by TouchTunes is a rapidly expanding wireless tabletop system that plays music and games to enhance the in-restaurant dining experience, plus delivers promotional and interactive marketing features. TouchTunes is a privately held U.S. corporation with offices in New York City, Lake Zurich, Illinois and Montreal, Canada. For further information please visit www.touchtunes.com.

NETTWERK MUSIC GROUP INTRODUCES THE HAMPDENS FIRST US RELEASE, THE CROUPIER EP, AVAILABLE DIGITALLY TODAY

Nettwerk is proud to announce their newest signing, The Hampdens, who are set to unveil a collection of songs titled The Croupier EP today on iTunes. The Aussie trio, who got their name from the Donna Tart novel The Secret History – which focuses on students at Hampden College involved in a pagan cult, strives to bring a fresh perspective to the indie-pop scene.

The Hampdens–Susannah Legge (vocals), Gavin Crawcour (guitar/bass) and Jules Hewitt (keys) – released their debut full-length album in Australia to critical acclaim. The Sunday Telegraph raves, “This music sends tingles up your spine,” and FHM says, “The Hampdens have managed to combine the acoustic quirk of REM with the slowed-up soul of Morcheeba. Keep an eye on this band, they have the class to go far.”

Croupier EP track listing:

1. Croupier 2. The Last Party 3. Philip Johnson Homes 4. 4Real

Don’t miss The Croupier EP on May 26 and watch for more music from the band down the line!

THE PRESENT TO EMBARK ON US TOUR IN SUPPORT OF SOPHOMORE RELEASE THE WAY WE ARE, COMING OUT ON LO RECORIDNGS/LOAF

NYC experimental group The Present, aka producer Rusty Santos joined by Jesse Lee (White Magic/Gang Gang Dance) and Mina, will be heading out on a cross-contry US tour (starting in NYC today!) in support of their forthcoming sophomore release, The Way We Are, the followup to the band’s abstract debut, The World I See, both on Lo Recordings/LOAF.

The Present returns with a new album that delves ever deeper into the human psyche. Like an audio equivalent of Apocalypse Now, and with artwork once again by the very talented Andrew Kuo, The Way We Are is by turns terrifying, enchanting, hallucinatory and sharply focused. Like a psychedelic power trio from a mythical dimension, The Present create a music that seems somehow familiar.

Touchstones include the music of La Monte Young, Dmitri Shostakovich, Wolfgang Voigt, Cluster, Black Dice, Claude Debussy, Aphex Twin, Can, Arthur Russell, Boredoms and Brian Eno and yet it sounds like none of these. What it is: a kaleidoscopic trip influenced by New York City, The Ocean, Mountains, The Sun and the Trees, Andy Warhol, Yukio Mishima, David Lynch, Friedrich Nietzsche, Buddhist Mantra, Mass Transit, Cats, Birds and life. Life in all its myriad complexity and confusions, in all it’s transcendent beauty and it’s horrendous brutality.

The Present’s live show has been described as ‘more of a sensory experience than a mere matter of listening’ and it’s the title track, a thirty five minute epic the like of which has not been heard since the glory days of Popul Vuh that best captures the bands extraordinary intensity.

SPINNERETTE ROARS INTO NY AND LA FOR RELEASE WEEK SHOWS SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM IN-STORES JUNE 23 NEW SINGLE ‘BAPTIZED BY FIRE’ UP ON MYSPACE NOW

New York, NY – Brody Dalle will unleash Spinnerette next month for live shows in NYC and Los Angeles. The band will make their first ever appearance in NY on June 22 at the Bowery Ballroom and hit Los Angeles on June 24th for a show at The Troubadour. MySpace will give fans their first listen of Spinnerette’s new single ‘Baptized By Fire’ on their Music Page.

The self-titled Spinnerette album will be released on June 23 via Anthem/RED and includes thirteen new songs written by Brody Dalle and produced by Alain Johannes. The Spinnerette album was recorded in Los Angeles at Pink Duck, the family studio of Joshua Homme & Brody Dalle, and at 11 AD which is Spinnerette producer and band member Alain Johannes’ studio. In addition to Dalle and Johannes (Queens of the Stone Age, Eleven), the band line-up on the record includes Tony Bevilacqua (The Distillers), and Jack Irons (Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers). Spinnerette will hit the road this summer for their first string of US, Canadian and European shows. Stay tuned for more tour information.